From our Archbishop:
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I have accepted the recommendation of the Review Board of the Archdiocese of St. Louis in its determination that a report alleging the sexual abuse of a minor by the late Father Alexander Lippert in the early 1970s is considered credible. Father Lippert died in April 2000, prior to any allegations being made against him. Although he is unable to offer a defense, the allegation against Fr. Lippert is considered “credible though unsubstantiated” because there was enough evidence to conclude that the abuse could have occurred as reported.
Father Lippert’s priestly assignments in the Archdiocese of St. Louis were as follows:
April 1956 Assistant pastor, Holy Guardian Angels
July 1959 Immaculate Conception, Union
1961 St. Liborius
1963 St. Teresa (in residence)
1965 St. Ferdinand, Florissant (in residence)
May 1968 St. Aloysius, Spanish Lake
July 1970 Requested leave of absence; took up residence at St. Paul the Apostle, Pine Lawn
June 1980 Associate pastor, Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France
Nov. 1980 Administrator, St. Catherine of Alexandria, Coffman
May 1983 Associate pastor, St. Ambrose
April 1986 Associate pastor, St. Thomas of Aquinas
July 1988 Sick leave
Jan. 1991 Relieved of priestly duties and granted retirement.
Anyone who wishes to make a report of the sexual abuse of a minor by Father Lippert or by any other priest, deacon or employee of the Archdiocese of St. Louis may contact De-con Phil Hengen, Director of Child and Youth Protection, Archdiocese of St. Louis at 314.792.7704 or [email protected]. Reports may also be made to the Missouri Division of Social Services Child Abuse Hotline at 800.392.3738 for allegations involving a person who is currently under the age of 18, or to civil authorities for allegations involving a person who is now an adult, but was abused as a minor.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Robert J. Carlson
Archbishop of St. Louis
Because Fr. Lippert served at St. Paul’s in Pine Lawn, we are, by extension and consolidation, the successor to that parish. As a part of my/our responsibility in creating and maintaining a safe environment, being transparent and reaching out to potential victims, we have supplied this information to one and all. Fr. Bill